by Alex Schwartz

Tobacco Road will see an influx of talent enter next fall, as the North Carolina schools in the ACC have loaded up in the class of 2011. The best incoming player at each position, as well as the top unranked player, are all headed to schools in the Tar Heel State.

Other ACC schools also have landed some superb players, as all but one of them has a commitment from at least one player ranked in the NBE Post-Summer Class of 2011 Top 150. As was the case in the ACC's preseason rankings this season, Duke leads the way in the recruiting rankings with North Carolina and Virginia Tech on its trail. In addition, Duke and North Carolina are in the top 10 nationally of the Post-Early Signing Period Top 25, which has become the norm at the two powerhouse programs.

Although it is safe to that that the SEC will hold the top spot in the conference rankings, the ACC might be able to challenge the Big East's number two ranking when all is said and done. Here is the breakdown of the recruiting classes in the ACC at this point.

ACC RECRUITING BREAKDOWN
Player rankings are based off NBE Post-Summer Class of 2011 Top 150
HM= Honorable Mention; NR= Not Ranked

Number of Top 25 Classes:  4 (plus 2 HM)
Class With the Most Commits: Boston College with 5
Class With the Most Ranked Commits: Duke and Virginia Tech with 4 each

Top Ranked Player: Austin Rivers, Duke
Best Unranked Player: Chase Fischer, Wake Forest
Top Ranked Point Guard: Quinn Cook, Duke
Top Ranked Shooting Guard: Austin Rivers, Duke
Top Ranked Small Forward: Michael Gbinije, Duke
Top Ranked Power Forward: James McAdoo, North Carolina
Top Ranked Center: Joseph Uchebo, North Carolina State

Number of Top 10 Players: 2
Number of Top 25 Players: 4
Number of Top 50 Players: 7
Number of Top 100 Players: 13
Number of Top 150 Players: 24

Class Rankings
Rank. School (National Rank)

1. Duke (3rd)
Austin Rivers, SG, 6'4, Winter Park (FL), #4
Michael Gbinije, SF, 6'6, Benedictine (VA), #19
Quinn Cook, PG, 6'0, Oak Hill Academy (VA), #20
Marshall Plumlee, C, 7'0, Christ School (NC), #111

2. North Carolina (7th)
James McAdoo, PF, 6'8, Norfolk Christian (VA), #9
PJ Hairston, SG, 6'4, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), #34
Jackson Simmons, PF, 6'7, Smoky Mountain (NC), NR (Note: Recruited walk-on)

3. Virginia Tech (14th)
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF, 6'6, IC Norcom (VA), #29
CJ Barksdale, PF, 6'7, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), #76
Marquis Rankin, PG, 6'0, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), #108
Robert Brown, SG, 6'4, Hargrave Military Academy (VA), #131

4. Maryland (20th)
Nick Faust, SG, 6'4, Baltimore City College HS (MD), #26
Sterling Gibbs, PG, 6'2, Seton Hall Prep (NJ), #71

5. Georgia Tech (HM)
Julian Royal, PF, 6'7, Milton (GA), #55
Bobby Parks, Jr., SG, 6'4, attends school in the Philippines, #102

6. Florida State (HM)
Aaron Thomas, SG, 6'5, Aiken (OH), #136
Terry Whisnant, SG, 6'3, Cherryville (NC), #141
Antwan Space, PF, 6'7, DeSoto (TX), #144
Kiel Turpin, C, 6'11, Lincoln CC (IL)

7. North Carolina State (NR)
Joseph Uchebo, C, 6'9, Word of God Academy (NC), #61
Tyler Harris, SF, 6'8, St. Benedict's (NJ), #130

8. Virginia (NR)
Malcolm Brogdon, SG, 6'5, Greater Atlanta Christian Academy (GA), #93
Paul Jesperson, SF, 6'7, Merrill (WI), #128
Darion Atkins, PF, 6'8, Landon School (MD), NR

9. Clemson (NR)
Bernard Sullivan, PF, 6'8, Davidson Day (NC), #69
Daniel "TJ" Sapp, PG, 6'3, Northeast (FL), NR

10. Boston College (NR)
Ryan Anderson, PF, 6'8, Long Beach Poly (CA), #121
Kyle Caudill, C, 6'11, Brea Olinda (CA), NR
Dennis Clifford, C, 6'10, Milton Academy (MA), NR
Lonnie Jackson, SG, 6'3, Valencia (CA), NR
Eddie Odio, SF, 6'7, Columbus (FL), NR

11. Miami (NR)
Bishop Daniels, PG, 6'1, Word of God Academy (NC), #113

12. Wake Forest (NR)
Chase Fischer, SG, 6'3, Ripley (WV), NR
Daniel Green, PF, 6'9, Grapevine (TX), NR

Note- photo is of Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and is from http://www.businessinsider.com/